AVNS vs ATRC

For growth investors, AtriCure, Inc.

(ATRC) is the stronger pick with 14. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS). Analysts rate AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC) a "Buy" — based on 19 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Avanos Medical, Inc.

(AVNS) delivered a total return of -42. 3%, compared to -64. 0% for AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATRC returned +100. 6% versus AVNS's -15. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AtriCure, Inc.

(ATRC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Avanos Medical, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning AVNS is approximately 50% more volatile than ATRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 18% for AtriCure, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AtriCure, Inc.

(ATRC) is pulling ahead at 14. 9% versus 1. 9% for Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avanos Medical, Inc. grew EPS 82. 9% year-over-year, compared to 74. 7% for AtriCure, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATRC leads at 17. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

AtriCure, Inc.

(ATRC) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 1% net margin versus -9. 7% for Avanos Medical, Inc. — meaning it keeps -2. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATRC leads at -0. 6% versus -8. 8% for AVNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATRC leads at 74. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Avanos Medical, Inc.

(AVNS) trades at 24. 7x forward P/E versus 373. 5x for AtriCure, Inc. — 348. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATRC: 80. 9% to $50. 67.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, AtriCure, Inc.

(ATRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), +100. 6% 10Y return). Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATRC: +100. 6%, AVNS: -15. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.